Package for watch main-spring



y 1, 1958 w. o. BENNETT, JR., ET AL 2,841,280

PACKAGE FOR WATCH MAIN-SPRING Filed May 6, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 |NVENTOR 1 w 3 ATTORN EY w. a BENNETT, JR., ET AL July 1, 1958 PACKAGE FOR WATCH MAIN-SPRING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6, 1954 will , 1| W l mm,

, 2,841,280 Fatented July 1, 1958 United States Patent Ofifice 2,841,280 I PACKAGE FOR WATCH MAIN-SPRING William Ogle Bennett, Jr., Bayside, Frederick De Merle Lower, Elmhurst, and George Ott, Jr., New Hyde Park, v N. Y., assignors to Bulova Watch Company, Inc., Flushing, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 6, 1954, Serial No. 428,032 I a 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-70) The present invention relates to an improved container or package for small articles and relates more particularly to the packaging of watch main-springs.

It is well recognized that the maintenance of time pieces, as for example watches, by the replacement of individual parts is an important phase of the industry. The manufacturer of a given line of watches makes available to its distributors, or to others who repair watches, a supply of watch parts for replacement. An important item in this line of activity is the replacement of the watch main-spring. Ordinarily a main-spring, in unwound condition, as usually supplied, is diflicult to handle and to identify as to size for use in a particular size watch. I

It has been proposed to supply the springs in a container in which the springs are loosely Wound. When used as a replacement such partially wound packaged springs, as in the case of the entirely unwound springs, must be properly wound in what is termed a main spring winder for insertion into a watch main-spring barrel.

Winders for this purpose are well known and Widely used in the industry and are made in a range of sizes to meet the dimensions of various size watch'main-spring barrels. The winders are in some cases provided with movable jaws to increase or decrease the diameter of the barrels to conform with the barrels of difierent watches, thus giving a wide range of variation to the winders. Each winder is provided with an ejector for forcing the wound watch spring into the barrel of a watch requiring a main-spring replacement.

In accordance with the present invention the operation of replacing a watch main-spring is simplified to the extent of avoiding the time consuming handling and winding of a replaceable main-spring and in correlating the spring and a container so as to facilitate the selection of properspring for a given size watch, and further in providing a container so constructed and arranged as to cooperate with means for transferring a wound mainspring from its package or container directly 'into operative position in a watch main-spring barrel.

It is an object of the present invention therefore'to supply main-springs wound and ready to be inserted into a watch main-spring barrel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shipping and storage container whereby a wound mainspring is so positioned as to be readily ejected from the container directly into the main-spring barrel of a watch.

Another object of the invention is to: provide a watch part container so constructed and arranged as to cooperate with a tool for ejecting the part from the container through a preselected path.

Another object of the invention is to provide a part container in the form of an apertured plate or disk and in tensionally engaging a wound main-spring with the perimeter of said aperture. Another object of the invention is to provide a mainspring container in the form of a flat plate or disk-like body apertured to receive a wound main-spring and provided with indicia to indicate the size of the woundspring and having means for supporting the containers in orderly arrangement with the indicia exposed for ready inspection.

Another object of the invention is to provide a'tool having a plurality of ejector members of different sizes for ejecting springs of different sizes from containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool having a plurality of ejector members of different sizes and colors for ejecting springs of different sizes from containers of corresponding colors.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following description together with the accompanying drawing in which;

Fig. 1 is a full size plan view of a watch main-spring in normal unwound condition;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a full size watch main-sprin barrel;

' Fig. 3 is a perspective full size view of a container or package for a watch main-spring as constructed in accordance with the present'inven tion;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of one side of the container shown in Fig. 3 with a coiled main-spring in the con tainer;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but showing the opposite side of the container; I

Fig. 6 is a view taken in line VIVI in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a transverse section of the container without a coiled main-spring therein;

Fig. 8 is a transverse cross sectional view of a container in position for the transfer of a coiled main-spring into awatch main-spring barrel;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a watch main-spring barrel with a main-spring in position;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a cabinet partitioned to provide compartments for supporting packaged mainsprings;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view taken on line XIXI in Fig. 10, and; i

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a tool used to eject coiled main-springs from containers.

The present invention makes possible the practical transportation, storage and application of coiled watch main-springs.

' A watch main-spring ltl, when in its normal form, as is shown in Fig. 1, is of generally S-shape form and must be wound into a spiral of relatively small diameter to be transferred into a watch main-spring barrel 12. This barrel as shown is part of a watch movement and is in the form of a circular cup having an annular wall 13, a bearing for a barrel arbor and gear teeth 15 to engage a center wheel pinion (not shown) which is part of a watch movement.

The present container or package is preferably in the form of a plate member or disk 16, and may be generally rectangular as shown or may be circular. When referred to hereinafter the term plate, disk or chip is intended to include a member which may be either circular or non-circular. This plate member is provided with an aperture or passage 17 to receive a coiled mainspring 18.

The plate-member may be made of any suitable mold able material and it has been found practical to form theplate-members from polystyrene which makes possible the convenient and practical use of a variety of colors for purposes to be hereinafter set forth.

As stated, the plate member 16 is provided with an aperture or passage 17. The wall 19 of this passage is, as shown, in the form of a hexagon, thus the six sides of the wall serve to provide an enclosure for a wound main-spring 18 conditioned and ready to be inserted into a watch main-spring barrel.

When positioned in the passage 17 the spring being coiled as a spiral tends to expand or unwind and make fn'ctional tangential contact with the sides of the pas- With. this arrangement the contacting surfaces, between the spring and the passage wall are separated by what may be termed channels or grooves, the purpose whichis'to. providefor the use of an ejector tool haging awma x imum diameter greater'than the maximurnz diameterof the wound main-spring;

j Thetool ZO-is in-the nature ofa plunger or" ejector in theform of a. hexahedron to slidably fit. the-passage. 17. Ihehexagonahwall 19'of'passage 17-.of the'plate} member is disposed intermediate an annular relativelyshallow;

step. or'guideshoulder 21 and what may be termed the 7 front. surface. 22 of the plate member.

Thei opposite or rear surface 23 isprovidedwith an -annular step or shoulder 24 of appreciable depth-to main-spring barrel.

r eceivethe annular wall 13; of a watch'main-spring barrel 12.. The watch main-springbarrel and plate member 16, .arerpositioned in axial; alignment with the passage 17 to receive a coiled spring when the latter is engaged by a Q toolrand ejected from. the plate member into the, watch From the foregoing it will be; understood that the. pres:

j entinvention providesacontainer so constructed and arranged as to receive amain-spring, in wound condition ready to be transferred into awatch main-spring barrel: When, the transfer is to bemade theyplate member by reason of the step or shoulder 24:-cooperates with the main-spring barrel. to. adjust the parts, including the tool" or punch- 20-,- into axialj alignment. .The parts thus. coi operate; to efiect'and simplify the loading of a wound main-spring, 1 into a. watch main-spring barrel.

; Aftera spring has been. removed from a container, the

container maybe returned :to. the. supplier for refilling or. may; be otherwise disposed of. or destroyed. fIt'has been found in. practice that by the use of aplastic plate member the costisnot a factor and after havingserved their purpose the containers arev disposed. of as inthe case of any package used for shipping purposes.

. As explained above the present package. or main-spring showmtlreplate member 116 isl of a thickness greater" 7 than the 'width' of the. wound spring and therefore the i oppositesidjes 221 and 23 are-free from protuberances container may be of any selected confi'gurationL.

and-may, be packedlor stackedrwith economy of. space.

Furthermore opposite edges. 26 and 27 'aregbeveled. or.

sharpedged to be received in s lots'28 andf29 of'a para ments to receive a group ofcontainers: of different colors as red-,blue', green, yellow; ivory and black.

Each color may represent agroup of containers for.

woundspriugs. In cases where a greater'numher .of groups-; of one color than another is tov be kept in stock the rack may have extra sections filled by plate mem: bers of a single color as'for example ivory as'indicated.

From the above it will beevident that a pluralityof each of a difierent size wound main-springs may be stocked. 'As indicated six difierent sizes are generally required.

Inasmuch as the. apertures or passage 17 of titioned rack 31 (see. Fig. .,l0)*.i As shown the; rack-o1: file casemay be provided .with a ,pluralityofi compart:

the difierent. containers differin diameterit is; necessary 7 7 to provide' atool to meet each condition, and'as'shown in Fig. 12 a multiple tool '33 may be provided. This.

toolhas a hub- 34 from which six ejector members or tools are secured to and are disposedin'radial'relationto the hub. This multiple tool may be. supplied to meet the requirements of 'the containers of difierent colors. Each color, represents 'a group of. springs of difierent .types or sizes identified. by 'a marking and the tools proper which extend from the hub 34'may be of different colors to' conform to the colors. of the several groups. Thus a 'tool of a given color will serve to eject coiled springs from containers of a similar: color although, as

stated; the springs in containers of thesame color may difierin size or type.

It' is'ohvi'ous that if desired the groups of. containers 7 may have a common marking instead of a'col'or and the.

toolsmaybe marked accordingly;

As above described the container or package is so formed as to provide a wall having spaced apart surfaces for'contactwith the outer annular surface of the wound spring to permitla contacting surface of a tool to extend radially beyond thesaid annulars'urface of thefsp ring 1 whereby aipos'itivefcontact is, made witlrall the COilSgDf the wound spring; Although thespring;contacting surfaces of thepassage arein the present casein the form of a hexagon it is to be understood that anysuita'ble. configuration-may be" used. Obviously the grooves or 1 channels which; surround the positioned wound spring maybe of any selected forrn to 'mee't;thegrequirement of having portionsfioflthe tool;surface.'extend beyond the j outer surfaceofthe coiledspring.

It-ihas been found that when the passageis hexagonal: or ,polyhedrical andaa tool intheform of a polyhedron: i is. employed; satisfactory results are .obtained;-. :Ifdesirf able the: individual. surface. areas of the passage, which; contact withgportions of the'wound spring, *may1,be

curved. to. conform with the curvature of thesurface. of: the spring; y

- On the otherjhand desired the passage. 17 maybe cylindrical and thezjtool oflcylindrical form to slidably fit the passage for movement as a plunger in the passag I I toengageand eject awoundspring.

In either case the container is not only spring; barrel. for. the transfer of a wound-main-spring into the watchmain-spring barreL; i

- Although a preferred embodiment of the invention shownv and described? herein it is to'be understood that modificationsmay 'be' made. therein without departing.

from thespirit and scope ofthe in; the appendedclaim.

Whatisclaimedisz,

A package ,ofa watch main-spring comprising a plate invention as set forth member offpredeterrninedthickness greater I the 1 thicknessof the: watch spring inserted the rein, said plate f L member having opposite -parallel faces defining the" said thickness. thereof, saidmeniber having a transverse aper' tur e therethrough with opposite" ends of said aperture i 7 opening one. throughon'e of said member facesand. the other throu'g h the other one of said rn'ember faces, and

both iof. said ends of the. aperture having. circular coritour. configurations. of;which,one has greater diameter than the other. and. an intermediate portion of said aper-I turehavi ng, a polyhedral. contour configuration the. diam, eter of an-included circle tangential .tothe facets thereof being less than. the diameter, of either of. said ci'rcular ends. of the aperture, and the thickness, of said intermediatepolyhedral'. portioniof said. aperture conforming to'the thickness of the watch spring whereby said watch spring. isz entirely within. said intermediate polyhedral 5 portionof saidfaperturei and inwardly from both ofsaid te nae References Cited file of this patent V V .L STATES PATENTS solconstructed and arranged-*as-toiserve to transport springs but me; chanicallyv cooper-ates with both tool and watch main- GreatBritain- 11111612; 1945 

